A population-based study on intestinal and diffuse type adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus and stomach in the Netherlands between 1989 and 2015.

AIM: To investigate the nationwide time trends in incidence and survival of oesophageal and gastric adenocarcinomas according to the Laurén classification (intestinal, diffuse and mixed type). METHODS: All patients diagnosed in the Netherlands with oesophageal or gastric adenocarcinoma between 1989 and 2015 were included. A syntax was developed to determine the histological subtype based on pathology reports as archived in the Dutch pathology registry. These reports were linked to individual data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Relative survival was used to assess survival. RESULTS: The histological subtype could be determined in 18.691 (84.1%) oesophageal and in 32.312 (83.5%) gastric adenocarcinomas. Among these, 79% were intestinal and 21% diffuse type in oesophageal cancers, compared to 55% intestinal and 44% diffuse type in gastric cancers. Relative median survival of intestinal type tumours was longer than that of diffuse type tumours, that is, 12.1 versus 9.4 months for oesophageal carcinomas, and 10.1 versus 7.6 months for gastric carcinomas, respectively. Between 1989 and 2015, the relative median survival of non-metastatic intestinal and diffuse type oesophageal adenocarcinoma improved from 12.0 to 30.0 months, and from 12.0 to 19.2 months, respectively. The same was true for intestinal type gastric carcinoma (from 22.8 to 27.6 months) but for diffuse type gastric carcinoma, the increase was less (from 16.8 to 18.0 months). CONCLUSION: In this nationwide study, histological subtypes of oesophageal and gastric adenocarcinomas differed in incidence and survival times. These findings may call for a differentiated treatment approach.

Trends in treatment and overall survival among patients with proximal esophageal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The management of proximal esophageal cancer differs from that of tumors located in the mid and lower part of the esophagus due to the close vicinity of vital structures. Non-surgical treatment options like radiotherapy and definitive chemoradiation (CRT) have been implemented. The trends in (non-)surgical treatment and its impact on overall survival (OS) in patients with proximal esophageal cancer are unclear, related to its rare disease status. To optimize treatment strategies and counseling of patients with proximal esophageal cancer, it is therefore essential to gain more insight through real-life studies. AIM: To establish trends in treatment and OS in patients with proximal esophageal cancer. METHODS: In this population-based study, patients with proximal esophageal cancer diagnosed between 1989 and 2014 were identified in the Netherlands Cancer Registry. The proximal esophagus consists of the cervical esophagus and the upper thoracic section, extending to 24 cm from the incisors. Trends in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, and OS were assessed. Analyses were stratified by presence of distant metastasis. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses was performed to assess the effect of period of diagnosis on OS, adjusted for patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics. RESULTS: In total, 2783 patients were included. Over the study period, the use of radiotherapy, resection, and CRT in non-metastatic disease changed from 53%, 23%, and 1% in 1989-1994 to 21%, 9%, and 49% in 2010-2014, respectively. In metastatic disease, the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy increased over time. Median OS of the total population increased from 7.3 mo [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.4-8.1] in 1989-1994 to 9.5 mo (95%CI: 8.1-10.8) in 2010-2014 (logrank P < 0.001). In non-metastatic disease, 5-year OS rates improved from 5% (95%CI: 3%-7%) in 1989-1994 to 13% (95%CI: 9%-17%) in 2010-2014 (logrank P < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated a significant treatment effect over time on survival. In metastatic disease, median OS was 3.8 mo (95%CI: 2.5-5.1) in 1989-1994, and 5.1 mo (95%CI: 4.3-5.9) in 2010-2014 (logrank P = 0.26). CONCLUSION: OS significantly improved in non-metastatic proximal esophageal cancer, likely to be associated with an increased use of CRT. Patterns in metastatic disease did not change significantly over time.

Poor compliance with perioperative chemotherapy for resectable gastric cancer and its impact on survival.

BACKGROUND: In several Western European countries it is recommended to treat gastric cancer patients with perioperative chemotherapy if they are eligible for surgery. However, little is known about its use in daily clinical practice. This study examines the use of perioperative treatment and its impact on survival in the Netherlands. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with potentially resectable gastric cancer (cT1N+/cT2-T3,X any cN, cM0,X) between 2006 and 2014 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (N = 5824). Treatment trends were examined. Propensity score matching was used to create a subsample to reduce selection bias. Cox regression analysis was used to assess differences in overall survival. RESULTS: The percentage of patients treated with perioperative treatment increased from 3% in 2006 to 26% in 2014 and the use of only surgery decreased from 60% to 26%. 35% of all patients did not undergo surgery. Of the patients who underwent preoperative chemotherapy and surgery, 43% did not commence postoperative treatment. Cox regression analysis showed a better overall survival for patients who underwent perioperative treatment compared to patients who underwent preoperative treatment only (HR = 0.80 95%CI 0.70-0.93; propensity matched sample: HR = 0.84 95%CI 0.71-0.99), whereas survival was comparable for patients who underwent preoperative chemotherapy versus surgery alone (HR = 0.89 95%CI 0.77-1.02, propensity matched sample: HR = 0.85 95%CI 0.72-1.01). CONCLUSION: This population-based study highlights that a significant proportion of the patients did not receive perioperative treatment. More research is necessary to elucidate the importance of the individual components of perioperative treatment.

'Missed' oesophageal adenocarcinoma and high-grade dysplasia in Barrett's oesophagus patients: A large population-based study.

BACKGROUND: A systematic review suggests that 25% of oesophageal adenocarcinomas (OAC) are 'missed' at index endoscopy for Barrett's oesophagus (BO); however, this included few population-based studies and may be an overestimate. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to quantify the 'missed' rates of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and OAC at index BO endoscopy. METHODS: Patients from the Northern Ireland BO register diagnosed between 1993 and 2010 (n = 13,159) were linked to the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry to identify patients who developed OAC or HGD. Logistic regression analysis compared characteristics of 'missed' vs 'incident' HGD/OAC, defined as diagnoses within 3-12 months vs >1 year after incident BO, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 267 patients were diagnosed with HGD/OAC ≥3 months after BO diagnosis, of whom 34 (12.7%) were potentially 'missed'. The proportion of 'missed' HGD/OAC was 25% among BO patients with low-grade dysplasia (LGD) and 9% among non-dysplastic BO patients. Older age and BO-LGD carried a higher risk of 'missed' HGD/OAC. Non-dysplastic BO patients were more often diagnosed with a 'missed' OAC (rather than HGD; 89%), compared with BO-LGD patients (40%). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one in 10 HGD/OAC cases are 'missed' at incident BO diagnosis, which is significant but lower than previous reports. However, 'missed' HGD/OAC cases represent only 0.26% of all BO patients.

Hospital of Diagnosis Influences the Probability of Receiving Curative Treatment for Esophageal Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to study the influence of hospital of diagnosis on the probability of receiving curative treatment and its impact on survival among patients with esophageal cancer (EC). BACKGROUND: Although EC surgery is centralized in the Netherlands, the disease is often diagnosed in hospitals that do not perform this procedure. METHODS: Patients with potentially curable esophageal or gastroesophageal junction tumors diagnosed between 2005 and 2013 who were potentially curable (cT1-3,X, any N, M0,X) were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Multilevel logistic regression was performed to examine the probability to undergo curative treatment (resection with or without neoadjuvant treatment, definitive chemoradiotherapy, or local tumor excision) according to hospital of diagnosis. Effects of variation in probability of undergoing curative treatment among these hospitals on survival were investigated by Cox regression. RESULTS: All 13,017 patients with potentially curable EC, diagnosed in 91 hospitals, were included. The proportion of patients receiving curative treatment ranged from 37% to 83% and from 45% to 86% in the periods 2005-2009 and 2010-2013, respectively, depending on hospital of diagnosis. After adjustment for patient- and hospital-related characteristics these proportions ranged from 41% to 77% and from 50% to 82%, respectively (both P < 0.001). Multivariable survival analyses showed that patients diagnosed in hospitals with a low probability of undergoing curative treatment had a worse overall survival (hazard ratio = 1.13, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.20; hazard ratio = 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.24). CONCLUSIONS: The variation in probability of undergoing potentially curative treatment for EC between hospitals of diagnosis and its impact on survival indicates that treatment decision making in EC may be improved.

Correlates of physical activity among colorectal cancer survivors: results from the longitudinal population-based profiles registry.

PURPOSE: Physical activity can improve health of cancer survivors. To increase physical activity levels among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors, we need to understand which factors affect physical activity. Therefore, this study examined the longitudinal relationship between symptom-related, functioning-related, and psychological barriers and socio-demographic and clinical factors with physical activity among CRC survivors. METHODS: CRC survivors identified from the population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry (ECR) diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 were included. Survivors completed validated questionnaires measuring moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and barriers in 2010(T1), 2011(T2), and 2012(T3). Linear-mixed models and linear regression techniques were used. RESULTS: Response rates were 74 % (N = 2451, T1); 47 % (N = 1547, T2); and 41 % (N = 1375, T3). Several factors were negatively associated with MVPA: symptom-related barriers (e.g., fatigue, dyspnea, chemotherapy side effects, pain, appetite loss, and weight loss); psychological barriers (i.e., depressive symptoms and anxiety); functioning-related barriers (e.g., low physical or role functioning, unfavorable future perspective); socio-demographic (i.e., older age, female, no partner); and clinical factors (i.e., obesity). However, no within-subject effects were significantly associated with MVPA. Groups of functioning-related barriers, socio-demographic factors, symptom-related barriers, psychological barriers, and clinical factors explained 11, 3.9, 3.8, 2.4, and 2.2 % of the variance in MVPA at T1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Several functioning-related and symptom-related barriers and few socio-demographic factors were associated with physical activity among CRC survivors. Future interventions to promote physical activity among CRC survivors could benefit by taking into account functioning aspects and symptoms of cancer and its treatment, and assess the causal direction of these associations.